Food peeler

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides for a food peeler having a removable blade that includes an end received in a bore of the food peeler handle and a resilient member is mounted adjacent to the end of the blade and allows for the blade to be moved between a centered and offset position so that the blade may be removed and replaced. A tool is provided in order to remove and replace the blade.

The present invention pertains to a blade holding device and inparticular a food peeler having a removable blade.

BACKGROUND

Many food peelers are known for peeling food items such as carrots,potatoes or apples that have a long flat blade having a pair of cuttingsurfaces for peeling the food item. In certain known devices, the bladeis attached at one end and has a distal end which is free. The attachedend of the blade is generally fixedly attached to a handle so that theconsumer or end user of the device cannot remove the blade from thehandle. Generally, the blade is secured by some mechanical means orwelded in place within the handle.

Other types of peelers are either Y-shaped or have an L-shaped armhaving mounting areas at each side to receive each end of the blade. Inknown embodiments, the blade can be mounted permanently between the twomounting areas formed by the arms by exerting sufficient force on theblade in order to forcibly insert each end of the blade into boresformed at each mounting area. The arms are generally formed ofsubstantially rigid plastic or metal. High pressure machines are used inorder to forcibly insert the blade by slightly flexing the arms awayfrom each other or flexing the blade so that the blade may be the armsbetween. Upon mounting of the blade between the arms, the arms springback to their static position and hold the blade fixedly therebetween.As the end user does not have the proper machinery to forcibly expandthe arms, the blade cannot be removed. Therefore, for all of thesedevices where the blade is fixedly mounted, when the blade becomes dull,the entire peeling device must be discarded. Therefore, there is desireda food peeler that has a replaceable blade so that a dull blade may beremoved and a new sharp blade replaced quickly and easily by an enduser.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides for a food peeler comprising a handlehaving a grip and a working end, a blade having a first end and a secondend, a bore formed in the working end of the handle and a resilientmember mounted in the bore, the first end of the blade being removablymountable in the bore to abut the resilient member, wherein by slidingthe blade so that the first end compresses the resilient member theblade may be mounted on or removed from the handle. In an embodiment,the handle may include an arm and the second end of the blade isattached to the arm. In an embodiment, the arm may include a bore forreceiving the second end of the blade. In an embodiment, the blade mayhave a centered position where the first end of the blade abuts, butdoes not compress the resilient member, wherein the blade is retained inthe handle. In an embodiment, the blade may have an offset positionwhere the blade is moved from the centered position so that the firstend is inserted further into its bore and compresses the resilientmember so that the second end is removed from its recess so that theblade may be mounted on or removed from the handle.

In an embodiment, a tool is provided having an engagement mechanism forengaging the blade and for moving the blade between the centered and theoffset positions and for removing the blade from the handle. In anembodiment, the engagement mechanism may include a longitudinalprotrusion that engages a longitudinal slot of the blade. In anembodiment, the engagement mechanism may include a lip that frictionallyengages the blade so that upon movement of the blade to the offsetposition, the tool grips the blade with sufficient force to remove theblade from the handle. In an embodiment, the arm forms generally aY-shape having distal ends that may include the bore and recess, thereinfor receiving the first and second ends of the blade, respectively. Inan embodiment, the arm may form generally an L-shape having a distal endhaving the recess formed therein and for receiving a second end of theblade. In an embodiment, the blade may include a finger at its first endfor insertion into the bore. In an embodiment, the blade at its secondend may include a distal portion that is not attached to the handle.

In an embodiment, the first end of the blade may include a lockingmember in order to restrict the first end of the blade from beingremoved from the bore receiving the first end. In an embodiment, thetool may include a plurality of cavities for receiving blades therein.In an embodiment, the tool may include a storage cavity for storing ablade therein. In an embodiment, the tool may include three cavities. Inan embodiment, the tool may include a gripping surface in order to holdthe tool so that the engagement member may engage a blade and grip thetool so that the tool may remove the blade. In an embodiment, the toolmay include a housing and the cavity is formed along an edge of thehousing. In an embodiment, the tool may be generally triangular shapedand includes three edges and three cavities respectively formed at theedges. In an embodiment, each cavity may include a longitudinalprotrusion centered between a pair of longitudinal ledges. In anembodiment, each ledge may include a lip that frictionally engages theblade on each side in order to retain the blade in the cavity and sothat the blade may be mounted on or removed from the handle.

In an embodiment, the tool may be formed of a central housing, a topplate and a bottom plate. In an embodiment, the central housing may forma plurality of longitudinal protrusions at each of its edges. In anembodiment, the top plate may form a plurality of ledges at each of itsedges. In an embodiment, the bottom plate may form a plurality of ledgesat each of its edges. In an embodiment, the tool may be assembled sothat the central housing has the top plate attached on one side and thebottom plate attached on the other side. In an embodiment, the tool mayinclude latch arms protruding from the top plate and bottom plate andeach are snap-fit to the central housing. In an embodiment, the blademay include a cap provided at each end. In an embodiment, a fingerengagement surface may be formed on one of the caps to help apply aforce to the blade to slide the blade to the offset position and insertthe cap at the opposite end into its respective bore and compress theresilient member. In an embodiment, the caps may be molded to the endsof the blade and each cap may include a resilient portion.

The present invention may also provide for a blade holding devicecomprising a handle having a grip and a working end having a bore, ablade having a first end and second end, an arm attached to the handleand having a recess, a resilient member provided in the bore, and one ofthe first or second ends of the blade received in the bore having theresilient member, so that upon movement of the blade to an offsetposition the blade compresses the resilient member so that the oppositeend of the blade is removed from its respective recess and the blade maybe mounted on or removed from the handle. In an embodiment, theresilient member may be connected to the blade. In an embodiment, theresilient member may be mounted within one of the bores. In anembodiment, each bore may include a resilient member mounted therein. Inan embodiment, the arm may generally form an L-shape. In an embodiment,the arm may generally form a Y-shape with the handle. In an embodiment,the blade may include a pair of cutting surfaces for peeling a fooditem. In an embodiment, a tool may have an engagement mechanism thatattaches to the blade to remove it to or from the handle. In anembodiment, the engagement mechanism may include a protrusion and a lip.

The present invention also provides for a food peeler comprising ahandle, a shaft extending from the handling including a pair of mountingareas, a blade having a mounting member at each end and each mountingmember received by a pair of mounting areas and at least one mountingarea having a release mechanism for releasing a mounting member mountedthereto. In an embodiment, the blade may be a rectangular metal bladehaving a cap at each end providing the mounting members. In anembodiment, each mounting area may include a bore shaped generallycorresponding to the mounting member. In an embodiment, the releasemechanism may include a resilient member mounted in the bore andengaging the cap at the end of the blade. In an embodiment, a fingeractivation area may be provided by at least one of the caps. In anembodiment, each bore may be rectangular shaped for receiving acorresponding rectangular shaped cap therein in order to mount the bladeto the shaft. The shaft includes a D-shaped opening and the shaft mayhave a proximal end and a distal end and a bore formed at each end forreceiving the mounting members therein.

The present invention further provides for a removable blade for a foodpeeler comprising a generally rectangular shaped metal blade having apair of mounting areas at each end and one of the mounting areasincluding a finger activation area. In an embodiment, a cap may bewelded to the blade. In an embodiment, the caps may be insert molded tothe blade. In an embodiment, a cap may include a mounting memberprotruding opposite the blade.

The present invention may further provide for a method of releasing ablade from a food peeler comprising the steps of applying a force to afirst mounting area of the blade in a first direction generally parallelto the longitudinal axis of the blade, and causing a second mountingarea at an end of the blade, opposite the first mounting area, to movein the first direction and depressing a resilient member mounted withina bore of the peeler upon moving the second mounting area against theresilient member and releasing the first mounting area from a first boreof the peeler and allowing the blade to pivot so that the first mountingarea may be removed from the bore.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding the subject mattersought to be protected, there is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings embodiments thereof, from an inspection of which, whenconsidered in connection with the following description, the subjectmatter sought to be protected, its construction and operation, and manyof its advantages should be readily understood and appreciated.

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a food peeler of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the food peeler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken at line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of another embodiment of a food peeler of thepresent invention;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken at line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken at line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an assembled tool of the presentinvention;

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the tool of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a bottom plan view of an additional embodiment of a foodpeeler of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken at line 10-10 of FIG. 9 depicting ablade in a mounted and partially removed orientation; and

FIG. 11 is a top plan view of the food peeler of FIG. 9.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference toFIGS. 1-3. A food peeler 10 is provided having a handle 12 that has agrip 15 formed thereon. In an embodiment, the grip 15 is formed of arubberized resilient material, such as a thermoplastic elastomer, moldedover a core 17. In an embodiment, the grip 15 is insert molded over thecore 17. The handle 12 includes a working end 18. Connected at theworking end is an arm 20 or shaft. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 1-3, the arm 20 forms a generally U-shape having a generallyD-shaped opening 22 within which is mounted a blade 30.

The blade 30 generally is a metal rectangular shaped blade having a pairof cutting surfaces 31, 32 formed at the sides of a slot 35 formedlongitudinally along the length of the blade 30. The blade includes afirst end 41 and a second end 42. Generally the first end 41 forms afirst mounting area and the second end 42 forms a second mounting area.Protruding from each of the first and second ends 41, 42 are fingers 43,44 or mounting members. Each end 41, 42 of the blade 30 is mounted tothe arm 20. The first end 41 is mounted at a proximal end 47 of the arm20 and the second end 42 of the blade 30 is mounted at a distal end 48of the arm 20. The fingers 43, 44 are respectively received within boresformed in the proximal and distal ends 47, 48 of the arm 20. In anembodiment, generally each bore is formed of a corresponding shape toreceive its respective finger 43, 44. However, for clarity sake the boreat the proximal end 47 of the arm 20 will be identified as bore 51 andthat at the distal end 48 as a recess 52. In an embodiment, the proximalend 47 of the arm 20 is protruding from the handle 12 and is formed of amaterial different than the grip 15. However, in an alternateembodiment, the proximal end 47 may be of one piece with the handle 12and may be formed as one piece with the working end 18 of the handle 12.Likewise, in alternate embodiment, the bore 51 may be formed in theworking end 18 of the handle 12.

In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, the bore 51 has mountedtherein a resilient member 55. The resilient member 55 functions as arelease mechanism for releasing the end 41 or mounting member from thebore 51 or mounting area. In an embodiment, the resilient member is ametal coil spring having a thermoplastic resin plug mechanicallyinserted into the spring. The plug acts as a stop abutment for the end41 or finger 43 of the blade 30. In another embodiment, the resilientmember 55 may be formed of a hard durometer thermoplastic resin capovermolded onto a soft 11 thermoplastic resin cap material forming aresilient body. The resilient plug is oriented in the bore 51 so thatthe hard cap abuts the end 41 or finger 43 of the blade. In a furtheralternate embodiment, the resilient member may be connected to theblade. Other alternate embodiments of the resilient member 55 may beprovided, such as, an uncooled coil spring, a rubberized member, anelastomeric plug or other member that provides for resiliency and/orelasticity. In an embodiment, the resilient member 55 is mounted withinthe bore 51 via a mechanical means, for example, press-fitting orfriction fitting the resilient member 55 therein where the innerdiameter of the bore 51 is approximately equal to the outer diameter ofthe resilient member 55. However, other means of mounting the resilientmember 55 within the bore 51 may be provided, for example, via adhesiveor use of fasteners. In an alternate embodiment, the resilient member 55may be allowed to freely rest within the bore 51 without any attachmentmeans. In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 1-3, the resilient member 55is only mounted within the bore 51, and the recess 52 has no resilientmember. However, in an alternate embodiment the recess 52 may alsoinclude a resilient member mounted therein. An alternate embodiment ofthe invention may provide for a blade that is only mounted at a proximalend and the blade has a free distal end that is not attached. In such anembodiment, the proximal end of the blade is inserted in a bore of ahandle. The bore includes a resilient member that is compressed when theproximal end of the blade is moved into the bore in order to remove theblade. A locking member maybe provided adjacent to the bore in order torelease the proximal end from the bore when the resilient member iscompressed.

The removal of the blade 30 will be explained as follows. The blade 30,as shown in FIG. 3, is oriented in a centered position where the firstend 41 of the blade 30 is abutting against the resilient member 55, butis not compressing the resilient member 55. In a preferred embodiment,the finger 43 is abutting the side of the resilient member 55 but hasvery little, or slight compression thereon. In the centered position,the second end 42 of the blade 30 is provided in the recess 52 and asmall gap 57 is provided at the bottom of the recess 52 adjacent thefinger 44 of the second end 42 of the blade 30. However, the gap 57 isvery small and does not allow for much, if any lateral movement (asviewed in FIG. 3) of the blade 30. The gap 57 and recess 52 are formedto allow for pivoting or swiveling of the blade 30. In an embodiment,the diameter of the recess 52 is larger than the outer diameter or widthof the finger 44 and the diameter of the bore 51 is larger than theouter diameter or width of the finger 43 so that the blade 30 may pivotat least 10° in each direction above and below a horizontal orientation(as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3).

To remove the blade, pressure is applied to the blade 30 in a directionof arrow A, which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade 30,in order to move the finger 41 against the resilient member 55 byinserting the finger 41 further into the bore 51. As the resilientmember 55 compresses, the blade 30 is moved further into the bore 51 andthe gap 57 increases, the finger 44 at the second end 42 begins to beremoved from the recess 52. As the resilient member 55 is completelycompressed, the blade 30 is moved to an offset position where the finger44 at the second end 42 is completely removed from the recess 52. Theblade then may be pivoted so that the second end 42 moves outward andaway from the distal end 48 of the arm 20. Thereafter, the first end 41may also be removed from the bore 51 and the blade 30 completely removedfrom the peeler 10. This removal process may be accomplished byoperation of a user's fingers gripping portions of the blade 30.However, as will be described in more detail later, a tool may be usedin order to remove the blade 30. In order to attach a different blade tothe peeler 10, the above discussed steps are reversed.

Turning to FIGS. 4-6 another embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. A food peeler 110 is disclosed having handle 112 having agrip 115 formed over a core 117. The handle 112 includes a working end118 having a pair of arms 120, 121 protruding from the working end 118.In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 4-6, the arms 120, 121 form agenerally U-shaped member so that the entire peeler 110 has a generallyY-shaped form. The arms 120, 121 form a generally D-shaped opening 122and have a blade 130 mounted thereon. The blade 130 includes a pair ofcutting surfaces 131, 132 formed on either side of a slot 135. The blade130 includes a first end 141 and a second end 142. Protruding from theends 141, 142 are fingers 143, 144, respectively. The arm 121 includes afirst end 147 and the arm 120 includes a second end 148. A bore 151 isformed in the first end 147 and a recess 152 is formed in the second end148. The finger 143 of the first end 141 of the blade 30 is mounted inthe bore 151 and the finger 144 of the second end 142 of the blade 30 ismounted in the recess 152 at the second end 148 of the arm 120. Mountedwithin the bore 151 is a resilient member 155 which compresses uponmovement of the blade 130 to an offset position from its centeredposition (as shown in FIG. 6). As discussed above, the embodiment shownin FIGS. 4-6 include a resilient member 155 mounted only in the bore151. However, the recess 152 may also have a resilient member mountedtherein in order to provide for the removal of the blade 130 from thepeeler 110.

Turning to FIGS. 7-8, a tool 200 is illustrated that removes and/orstores blades. The tool 200 may be used for many types of blade holdingdevices, such as food peelers, razor blades or other devices includingthe embodiments of FIGS. 1-6 and 9-11. The tool provides for anengagement mechanism 210 including a longitudinal protrusion 215 and apair of ledges 217, 218 formed longitudinally along each side of theprotrusion 215. The ledges include respectively lips 220, 221, which arecurved in order to frictionally engage the edge of a blade. In anembodiment, multiple cavities 231, 232, 233 are formed on the tool 200.Each cavity includes an engagement mechanism 210 comprising a pair ofledges 217, 218 and a longitudinal protrusion 215.

Each cavity 231, 232, 233 may act either as an engagement mechanism 210for removing a blade, or a storage cavity for storing a blade. In anembodiment, the tool 200 may be received by the end user with a blademounted in two of the cavities 231, 232 and the third cavity 233 will beempty. Therefore, a user may use the empty cavity 233 in order to removea blade from the food peeler and then rotate the tool 200 to cavity 232;where a new blade is stored and use the tool 200 to mount the new bladefrom the cavity 232 to the food peeler, for example 10, 110 as discussedpreviously. Generally, the tool 200 is used by inserting thelongitudinal protrusion 215 in a slot, for example slot 35 of the blade30 of FIG. 1, and the lips 220, 221 grasp the edges of the blade 30 sothat it may be removed or attached to a peeler or other device.

The tool 200 includes a gripping surface 240 so that the tool 200 may beeasily gripped by a user's fingers when the tool is being used to removeor attach a blade to a blade from a food peeler. In an embodiment thetool 200 is formed generally of three parts that form a housing 245consisting of a central housing 250, a top plate 251 and bottom plate252. Each of the top plate and bottom plate 251, 252 include latch arms260 that engage the inner side of the central housing 250 so that thetop plate and bottom plate 251, 252 may be snap-fit to the centralhousing 250. A central panel 262 may be attached to the bottom plate252. The central housing 250 forms edges 265, 266, 267. Provided at eachof the edges 265, 266, 267 of the assembled tool an engagement mechanism210 is formed. In the embodiment disclosed in FIG. 7-8, there are threeedges having three engagement mechanisms 210. However, it is to beunderstood that the tool may be formed to have any number of engagementmechanisms 210 and those engagement mechanisms 210 may be formed at theedges or on other surfaces of the tool 200.

Turning to FIGS. 9-11, a further embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. A peeler tool 300 includes a handle 312 having a grip 315and a core 317. The handle 312 includes a working end 318 and an arm 320protruding therefrom. In the embodiment disclosed in FIGS. 9-11, the arm320 is formed as one piece with the core 317 of the handle 312. However,in an alternate embodiment, the arm 320 may be formed separately andattached to the working end 318 of the handle 312. The arm 320 forms aD-shaped opening 322 to which is mounted a blade 330. The blade includesa pair of cutting surfaces 331, 332 formed on each side of a slot 335.The blade 330 includes a first end 341 and a second end 342. The firstend 341 forms a first mounting area and the second end 342 forms asecond mounting area. Protruding from the ends 341, 342 are fingers 343,344, respectively. The first end 341 is mounted at a proximal end 347 ofthe arm 320 and the second end 342 of the blade 330 is mounted at adistal end 348 of the arm 320. A bore 351 is formed at the proximal end347 and a recess 352 is formed at the distal end 348 of the arm 320 forreceiving the fingers 343, 344 therein, respectively. A resilient member355 is mounted within the bore 351.

Each end 341, 342 of the blade 330 includes a mounting member. Mountingmembers 361, 362, in an embodiment, are caps formed of a polymermaterial that are attached to the ends of the blade 330. In anembodiment, the mounting members 361, 362 are L-shaped and includefingers 343, 344 protruding therefrom. In an embodiment, the caps aremolded over the metal ends of the blade 330. In an embodiment, themounting members 361, 362 respectively include finger engagementsurfaces 365, 366. Each finger engagement surface provides for a fingeractivation area. In an embodiment, each finger engagement surfaces 365,366 has a surface shaped to receive a tip of an index finger of a user'shand. For example, the finger engagement surface 365, 366 may be formedof a resilient material or a surface having features to provide frictionagainst a user's fingertip. Thus, upon pressure applied by a user'sfingertip at the finger engagement surface 365, 366 the mounting members361, 362 and the blade 330 are activated by moving the blade 330longitudinally in order to release the blade 330 from the peeler 300.

With reference to FIG. 10 (which shows the blade 330 in a mounted and apartially removed orientation), the operation of the blade 300 will bediscussed as follows. The blade 330 depicted generally parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the handle 312 is in its mounted and centeredposition. In order to remove the blade 330, a user's finger is placedagainst the finger engagement surface 365 at the first end 341 of theblade 330. The user's finger applies pressure to the finger engagementsurface 365 of the mounting member 361 in order to move the blade indirection of arrow B. The blade 330 is moved so that the first end 341moves towards the handle 312 and the finger 343 is inserted further intothe bore 351 in order to compress the resilient member 355. The finger343 of the first end 341 is inserted far enough into the bore 351, sothat the finger 344 at the second end 342 of the blade 340 is releasedfrom the recess 352. The finger 344 and second end 342 may then bepivoted away from the distal end 348 of the arm 320 in direction ofarrow C. While gripping the finger engagement surface 365 of the cap atthe mounting member end 361 with a pair of the user's fingers, the blademay then be removed from the peeler tool 300 by pulling the blade 330 sothat the first end 341 and finger 343 are removed from the bore 351. Inorder to mount a new blade to the peeler 300, the above process isreversed.

Therefore, it may be understood that the embodiment illustrated in FIGS.9-11 allows for removal and mounting of the blade 330 without the use ofa tool. However, the blade 330 may be removed using a tool. For example,the blade 330 includes a slot 335 so that the tool described in FIG. 7-8may also be used to aid in the removal and mounting of the blade 330. Inan embodiment the blade 330 may have each end 341, 342 formedidentically so that the blade 330 may be mounted with either end ineither the bore 351 or the recess 352. In an alternate embodiment, theends 341, 342 may be designated or polarized so that only one end may bereceived in the bore 351 and the opposing end in the recess 352. In analternate embodiment, the mounting members 361, 362 may have a resilientmember. In a further alternate embodiment, a resilient member may beformed with the cap or mounting member 361, 362 so that the bore 351does not need to have a separate resilient member 355 mounted therein.In another alternate embodiment, each end 341, 342 of the blade 330 mayhave a resilient member attached thereto.

The matters set forth in the foregoing description and accompanyingdrawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation.While particular embodiments have been shown and described, it will beapparent to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications maybe made without departing from the broader aspects of applicant'scontribution. The actual scope of the protection sought is intended tobe defined in the following claims when viewed in their properperspective based on the prior art.

1-44. (canceled)
 45. A method of releasing a blade from a food peelercomprising the steps of: providing a food peeler including a bore havinga resilient member; applying a force to a blade in a first directiongenerally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the blade, and causing afirst and second mounting area at each end of the blade to move in thefirst direction; depressing the resilient member upon moving the firstmounting area against the resilient member; and releasing the secondmounting area from a recess of the peeler and allowing the blade topivot so that the first mounting area may be removed from the bore. 46.The method of claim 45 further comprising the steps of: mounting a toolto the blade so that an engagement mechanism of the tool engages andgrips the blade; moving the tool and blade so that the blade moves froma centered position to an offset position; and removing the blade fromthe food peeler.
 47. The method of claim 45 wherein the first mountingarea includes a finger protruding therefrom to be received by the bore.48. The method of claim 45 wherein the first mounting area includes acap attached thereto and the cap having a finger activation area.49.-53. (canceled)